From Fr M. Cauchi osa

This year we commemorate the fourth centenary of the enrolment of Fra G. F. Abela in the Order of St John of Jerusalem.

Malta was fortunate to have a son like Fra Gian Francesco Abela, while the Order of St John was proud to accept him as one of its members because he was a learned man and a genius.

He joined the Order exactly 400 years ago, as noted in the archives of the Order – Die 27 Aprilis 1605, admission fratris Joannis Francisci Habela in gradu Cappellanorum... (A.O.M .191, fol.187v.)

His superiors assigned him to the Diplomatic Corps of the Order and he was one of the delegates to Pope Clement VIII and the kings of Spain and France. He always showed how capable he was in the course of his career. He was “locum tenens” as the Prior of the Church of St John and held the office of Vice-Chancellor of the Order for 35 years. Besides that, he was a member of the Commission for the election of Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris. In the Libri Conciliorum one can admire his handwriting.

He is known primarily as “The Father of the Maltese History”. Among the books he published are Descrizione di Malta isola del mare Siciliano and Descrizione di Malta del Commendador Abela.

He died at the age of 73 and was buried in St John’s Co-Cathedral in the chapel of Our Lady of Philermos, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept, exactly in front of the altar.

A marble slab on his tomb has an epitaph listing his achievements carved on it to tell visitors who Fra Gian Francesco Abela was.

His portrait can be seen in the National Library, Valletta.

Mark Cauchi